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Danniella Westbrook’s fiance took cocaine with his addicted wife-to-be rather than trying to stop her, he has revealed to the Sunday People.

In a shocking confession, cage fighter Tom Richards confirmed Danniella relapsed when they were engaged in April – after being clean for 12 years.

Breaking his silence over her ­admission of returning to cocaine, Richards, 24, said: “I should have helped her but I took drugs with her too.”

The pair were pictured in the Sunday People having a fiery row in the street – which, he reveals, was over text ­messages about coke. But now he claims they are back together trying to rebuild their whirlwind relationship.

That is despite Danniella’s admission she had slept with a man who recently provided her with drugs on holiday.

(Photo: Splash)

Speaking in Los Angeles, Richards said: “I couldn’t forgive myself if I let Danni take all the responsibility for ­taking cocaine.

"I used it with her too.

“We all make our own choices... but I wish I’d done more and prevented what happened. I feel so guilty.”

Richards claimed mum-of-two Danniella, 40, did not know he was a cocaine user when they got together in February – a month after her split from husband of 12 years Kevin Jenkins.

He admitted he knew of the depths to which she sank at the height of her addiction in 2001, but said he initially lied to her about his own habit.

Tom admits that when he first started dating Danniella, who rose to fame as EastEnders star Sam Mitchell in 2000, she was enduring a torrid time.

Not only had she just split from her businessman ­husband Kevin, 43, she was burgled three times and hit by financial problems.

She and Tom then suffered their own heartache of a miscarriage in June.

He said: “It’s been really tough. I was gutted because I have always wanted a child, particularly with Danni as I want to be with her for the rest of my life and for it to work out.

“I couldn’t deal with the situation. I was a mess.

(Photo: Splash)

"Danni effectively had a breakdown too. I’d started dating her right in the middle of it all – the divorce, the drink and the drugs.”

The star, who has a son Kai, 17, by ex boyfriend Robert Fernandez and ­daughter Jody, 12, by Kevin, last week confessed to sleeping with a man who gave her drugs while she was on a break from Richards in Magaluf, Spain, this month.

He admits: “We weren’t together at the time but it was hard for me to come to terms with.

"But she was on a path of self-destruction. I warned her off him despite the fact we had split up.”

Danniella, whose previous drug use left her with a collapsed nose septum which was later rebuilt and was once told she only had two weeks to live, was exposed as a drug user a week later.

In an emotional interview this week by videolink from LA she told This Morning hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: “I’m super ashamed.”

She said of beating cocaine the first time: “I thought how I’d thrown everything away. I was scared of being where I was and having two weeks to live.”

But of taking drugs in Spain she admitted: “The most frightening thing was I didn’t think about it at all.”

Danniella has vowed to beat coke again and went to LA with Tom and daughter Jody to undergo rehab.

The pair are also giving their relationship another go.

Richards said: “We are in the best possible place to rebuild. Being out in Los Angeles gives us time to work on our relationship.

“We can go out without prying eyes all the time.

"We can talk freely to one another with no one scrutinising our every step waiting for us to screw up.”

Richards spoke of his pride at Danniella admitting she had a problem and taking control before it could spiral out of control like before.

(Photo: Sunday Mirror)

He said: “I love her and would do anything for her and I would prefer the blame to be put on me to protect her.

"But she has taken the responsibility and I admire her for that.

“I feel relieved I can talk about it and be honest. It was not right ­deceiving people. I will do anything in my power to protect her.”

After a week of rehab and ­attending a local church, Tom said the change in devout Danniella is hugely ­encouraging.

He added: “I can see the ­improvements already. I’m not saying everything is better but she is more relaxed.

“She comes from a church where people have had addiction problems and no one is judging her.

“I went with her the other day and it was nice watching her just be herself.

"She put her hands up and accepted it and that’s half the battle.

“The American way is a bit of a shock but I have seen the change in her in just a week. She is more calm, less stressed and frantic.